Heidfeld - 'I'm no number 1'
(GMMf1NET -- Dec.7) Nick Heidfeld has rejected calls that he
will be BMW Sauber's 'number one' F1 driver in '06.

The German, switching with the Munich manufacturer from
Williams, will line up alongside Jacques Villeneuve -- who
rumor has it is only staying at Hinwil because his Peter
Sauber-signed deal was found to be absolutely watertight.

''I have a three year contract,'' Heidfeld insisted, 'but no
number 1 status.''

He added: ''As in every other team I have driven for, it is
up to me to establish my position.''

Far from discount the Villeneuve threat, then, Heidfeld
hails the fact that his teammate is 'fast' and
'experienced'.

''That is what I have got with Jacques, which is exactly
what I wanted,'' he told 'Express'.

However, Nick does admit that the 1997 world champion's
early form at Sauber this year was not up to scratch. ''I'm
not going to make a secret of the fact that Jacques
disappointed me (in 2005).

''I didn't think he would find the speed to catch up later
this year -- but his last few races were fairly strong.''

Honda calm V8-V10 fear
(GMMf1NET -- Dec.7) A scandal about V8-V10 equivalency has
been downplayed by Japanese F1 team owner and manufacturer
Honda.

The company's racing vice president Otmar Szafnauer moved to
downplay wild speculation that Scuderia Toro Rosso could be
on pole in Bahrain, or that front-running teams may ditch
their underpowered V8 to join 'STIR' in running a limited
V10 engine.

In initial testing, estimates put Toro Rosso's V10 advantage
- even with a rev-limit and air restrictor plate mandated by
the FIA - at around the 100 horsepower mark.

But Szafnauer insisted: ''The FIA has reserved the right to
change (the restriction) at any time.

''They've said the V10 would never have an advantage over
the V8.''

However, he said there was 'no question' that Toro Rosso's
V10 is currently quicker than any 2006-spec V8.

But he added: ''I am confident the current imbalance will be
sorted out before the start of next season.''

Schu's short break
(GMMf1NET -- Dec.7) The fact that Ferrari's unseated world
F1 champion Michael Schumacher has enjoyed his shortest
post-season break in seven years is 'nothing major'.

That's the insistence of a spokesman, who played down
speculation that the 36-year-old was enticed out of his
traditional winter hibernation to help the Italian team out
of its crisis.

Not since 1998 has German-born Michael Schumacher tested his
red car before Christmas.

''He told us he was available and we thought it would be
helpful,'' the spokesman at Maranello HQ said.

Schumacher will drive a V8-powered Ferrari at Jerez (Spain)
on two days next week.

CVC eye total F1 buyout
(GMMf1NET -- Dec.7) 'CVC' is in talks to buy the rest of
formula one from an American bank.

After snapping Bernie Ecclestone, Bayerische Landesbank and
JP Morgan's combined 86 per cent share of the sport, the
British private equity group is now shaping up to buy the
final 14 per cent from Lehman Brothers.

A 'CVC' spokesman said on Tuesday: ''We continue to seek an
agreement with (Lehman).

No figures have been confirmed, but estimates put the total
value of the formula one shares at about $1bn.

The value will not have been hurt by a recent study of
'Initiative Worldwide', in which the pinnacle of motor sport
was labeled the top global annual television event.

New starts at Grove
(GMMf1NET -- Dec.7) Grand prix team Williams has attracted a
new brand to F1 -- Dutch shaving company Philips.

The one-year sponsorship agreement sees Philips take up the
obviously minor 'Male Shaving Partner' spot, but it should
be viewed as a first step to a possible larger interest.

''We are delighted to have formed this partnership with an
internationally acknowledged brand and market leader,'' said
Sir Frank Williams.

Also kicking off a new collaboration with the Oxfordshire
based team is Indian driver Narain Karthikeyan, who - after
debuting for Jordan this year - is expected to shortly be
named 'Friday' driver for 2006.

The 28-year-old will test for the newly Cosworth-powered
team on Wednesday, as the second major group test of the
'off' period starts at Jerez.

''(He) will test ... pending the announcement of the team's
third driver,'' said technical director Sam Michael.

Vodafone to flee Ferrari
(GMMf1NET -- Dec.7) Vodafone could be about to end its $87
million sponsorship of Ferrari, according to reports.

Not long after axing the $16m Manchester United football
team sponsorship two years early, the mobile phone operator
is also considering pulling the plug on formula one, 'Brand
Republic' explained.

Heidfeld, however, smilingly admits that there is one good
thing about having to wear a sling around the house. ''For
ages I could not change (baby daughter) Juni's diaper.

''At last,'' Nick grinned, ''I caught a bit of good luck!''

V10 lacks power - Liuzzi
(GMMf1NET -- Dec.7) Vitantonio Liuzzi has brought a fresh
perspective to the 'V8 versus V10' engine equivalency
debate, arguing that his restricted power plant will not be
an advantage when the '06 kicks off.

F1's top teams and carmakers are up in arms about Scuderia
Toro Rosso, the former Minardi team, which intends to
exercise an FIA loophole to dodge V8 engines next year.

It is claimed that STR's V10-powered advantage, despite a
16,500rpm rev-limit and air intake-restrictor, is as much as
90 to 100 brake horse power.

''The positive thing is that on paper our engine will be
more reliable.''

Now, sources are reporting that the argument is not just
about engine equivalency, but the carmakers' belief that STR
- a well-funded team owned by billionaire Red Bull magnate
Dietrich Mateschitz - should be compelled to follow suit
with the V8-powered norm.

Indeed, the FIA concession was designed to keep the team's
cash-strapped former owner - Paul Stoddart - going.

But it is expected that at certain circuits, like the
sluggish Hungary and Monaco, the V10's lack of top-end grunt
might be compensated by it delivering superior torque.

Honda HQ to stay put
(GMMf1NET -- Dec.7) There are no plans to move Honda's
engine-building HQ to the 'BAR' factory, racing president
Otmar Szafnauer says.

Although the Japanese carmaker now owns the renamed 'Honda
Racing F1 Team', Szafnauer said the collaboration would not
follow the Toyota or Ferrari model by building the chassis
and engine under a single roof.

'Honda Racing Development' is located at Bracknell, a 60
mile journey from Brackley (UK).

''We've investigated that option,'' he admitted, ''but ...
it will stay in Bracknell at this time.

''It is not that far away.''

Vice president Szafnauer also explained that when another
Honda-powered team - perhaps 'Super Aguri' - gets up and
running, it 'could make more sense' for the engine-building
plant to be separated from the works team.

He added: ''In the short term at least, we have no plans of
relocating.''

Meanwhile, Szafnauer said Honda's new state-of-the-art wind
tunnel would be up and running in the middle of 2006.

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